<b>QB Andrew Luck, 6-4, 234, 4.67, Stanford</b>
Luck, who played his high school ball at Stratford High School for coach Eliot Allen, is the consensus top pick in the draft and will likely be the first player taken by the Indianapolis Colts. He’s accurate, has a strong arm, athletic, intelligent and is a leader. less

<b>QB Andrew Luck, 6-4, 234, 4.67, Stanford</b>
Luck, who played his high school ball at Stratford High School for coach Eliot Allen, is the consensus top pick in the draft and will likely be the first player ... more

Photo: Paul Sakuma / Associated Press

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<b>DT Michael Brockers, 6-5, 316, 5.15, LSU</b>
The Chavez High School product was a third-year sophomore for the Tigers last year and was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference pick. His workouts haven’t been ideal but his production was solid and he’s projected as a first-round pick. less

<b>DT Michael Brockers, 6-5, 316, 5.15, LSU</b>
The Chavez High School product was a third-year sophomore for the Tigers last year and was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference pick. His workouts ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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<b>OL Kelechi Osemele, 6-6, 333, 5.27, Iowa State</b>
Osemele, who prepped at Langham Creek, could project as a guard or a tackle at the next level. He has an 84-inch wingspan, is a strong run blocker and is likely a second-day pick, either as a second or third rounder. less

<b>OL Kelechi Osemele, 6-6, 333, 5.27, Iowa State</b>
Osemele, who prepped at Langham Creek, could project as a guard or a tackle at the next level. He has an 84-inch wingspan, is a strong run blocker and is ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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<b>FS George Iloka, 6-3, 225, 4.66, Boise State</b>
The Kempner High product was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in his and was an AP honorable mention All-American as a senior. Also projected as a second or third round pick. less

<b>FS George Iloka, 6-3, 225, 4.66, Boise State</b>
The Kempner High product was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in his and was an AP honorable mention All-American as a senior. Also projected ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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<b>LB Tank Carder, 6-2, 236, 4.61, TCU</b>
Carder, who hails from Sweeny, was a big-time playmaker for the Horned Frogs and is most remembered for his clutch play in the 2011 Rose Bowl. An aggressive player who projects as a third-day pick as an outside linebacker in the 4-3 or inside in the 3-4. less

<b>LB Tank Carder, 6-2, 236, 4.61, TCU</b>
Carder, who hails from Sweeny, was a big-time playmaker for the Horned Frogs and is most remembered for his clutch play in the 2011 Rose Bowl. An aggressive player ... more

Kyle Martens had just finished Pro Day last month when an NFL coach took note of the punter’s name on the upper deck — recognizing All-America status — at Rice Stadium.

“We’ll see his name a lot in the future,” said John Fassel, the special teams coordinator for the St. Louis Rams.

For starters, Martens will take hearing his name called during the NFL draft later this week.

“It will be cool to know if anything is going to happen, if it’s meant to be or not,” Martens said. “I don’t have the slightest clue. Anything can happen.”

Martens is considered among the top punters available in the draft, but even that offers little insight into where he might go with so few punters taken each year. Some draft projections have Martens going anywhere from the sixth and seventh rounds to undrafted.

“I wouldn’t have believed I’d be in this position two years ago,” said Martens, a two-time All-Conference USA first-team selection and candidate for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter his final three seasons.

Martens struggled during his first two seasons before discovering he had been kicking with a hip injury that limited his distance on punts.

“Every time I kicked, it felt like my leg wasn’t there,” he said. “It was really frustrating.”

After arthroscopic surgery to repair a bone chip on his right side and clean out cartilage in early 2010, Martens responded with his two best seasons. As a junior, Martens finished third in the nation with a school-record 46-yard average and was named an All-American.

“Everything just clicked my junior year,” he said. “There was nothing holding me back. It felt like I had a whole different leg.”

While his junior season concentrated on what coaches called a “field-position changer,” Martens said he focused on hang time and placement his final year. His average dipped to 43.6 yards, but he also posted career highs in punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line (25) and fair catches (27).

Since the end of the season, Martens has worked out for scouts at the NFL combine, at Rice’s Pro Day and in private sessions with the Texans and Cowboys.

Martens said he would like to continue the trend of punters from Texas schools being drafted and having productive NFL careers. SMU’s Thomas Morstead, who played at Pearland, was taken in the fifth round by New Orleans in 2009 and played on a Super Bowl winner. Baylor’s Daniel Sepulveda was a fourth-round pick in 2007 and won a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh. Texas A&M’s Shane Lechler, taken in the fifth round in 2000, is a seven-time Pro Bowler with Oakland.

“There have been a lot of good punters to come out of Texas,” Martens said. “I want to keep it going.”

1. Indianapolis: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
Mock 3 pick: Luck
Comment: The best prospect at his position since John Elway in 1983 fills a need and will play under incredible pressure as the replacement for Peyton Manning. less

1. Indianapolis: QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
Mock 3 pick: Luck
Comment: The best prospect at his position since John Elway in 1983 fills a need and will play under incredible pressure as the replacement for ... more

Photo: Paul Sakuma / Associated Press

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2. Washington (from St. Louis): QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Mock 3 pick: Griffin
Comment: They paid dearly in draft choices to move up to get him, and he’ll start from Day 1 because he fits perfectly into the Shanahans’ offense. less

2. Washington (from St. Louis): QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Mock 3 pick: Griffin
Comment: They paid dearly in draft choices to move up to get him, and he’ll start from Day 1 because he fits perfectly ... more